Gas fueled candle



U. W. MASSIE Jan. 2, 1968 GAS FUELED CANDLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 21, 1966 FIG. 2

INVENTOR Ulus W. Mussie 77M- ATT ORNEYS Jan. 2, 1968 U. w. MASSIE 3,360,967

GAS FUELED CANDLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- 7 FIG. 6

Filed June 21, 1966 FIG.

INYENTOR Ulus W. Mossie p BY ATT RNEYS United States Patent 3,360,967 GAS FUELED CANDLE Ulus W. Massie, Stroud'sburg, Pa., assignor to Ronson Corporation, Woodbridge, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed June 21, 1966, Ser. No. 559,170 8 Claims. (CI. 67-87) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A gas fueled candle having a base portion, a gas outlet valve connected at one end of the base portion of the candle and movable axially thereof between a first closed position and a second open position, an adjusting member rotatably connected to the outlet valve for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the candle to vary the size of the opening of the outlet valve, a nozzle member rotatably connected to the one end of the base portion of the candle, and a regulating mechanism connected between the nozzle member and outlet valve for moving the valve between the first closed and second opened positions and for rotatably moving the adjusting member upon relative rotation of the nozzle and base portion of the candle.

Heretofore, gas candles having an internally disposed fuel valve have been constructed with regulating means for initially opening and closing the gas flow passage through the valve and for thereafter regulating the extent of the opening of such passage to adjust the rate of gas flow to the nozzle end of the candle and thus the height of the flame. The regulating means included in these prior constructions are internally disposed with respect to the candle body and are made up of a number of individual parts that must be assembled in operative relationship with both the fuel valve mechanism and with the surrounding candle body in order that the user of the candle may adjust the gas flow rate by simple rotational movement of one part of the candle body relative to another part thereof. The assembly of these elements in properly aligned position during manufacture of the candle requires time and care and thus tends to increase the overall manufacturing expense of the candle.

In accordance with the pres ent invention, an improved and simplified regulating mechanism is incorporated into the gas candle for controlling the operation of the fuel valve. Generally, the candle of the present invention includes a conventional fuel valve of the type having an axially movable valve stem for controlling the initial opening and the closing of the gas passage through the valve and an adjusting member rotatably connected to the body of the valve for effecting adjustment of the rate of fuel flow through the valve. Associated with this valve is an adjusting wheel operatively connected to the valve adjusting member for rotation therewith and having a cam surface facing axially of the valve stem. Engaging the cam surface of the adjusting wheel is a cam follower which is in turn connected to the stem of the valve whereby axial movement of the follower eifects a corresponding axially movement of the valve stem.

For operatively connecting the regulating mechanism to the candle body so that actuation of the valve may be accomplished by rotating one part of the candle body relative to another, the adjusting wheel is non-rotatably -fixed to one of these parts of the candle body while the .valve and the cam follower of the regulating mechanism are both connected to the other part of the candle body for rotation with that part.

With the construction of the present invention, the parts ,of the valve regulating mechanism may be expeditiously assembled onto the candle fuel outlet valve. Also, the

3,360,967 Patented Jan. 2, 1968 ice structure necessary for operatively connecting the regulating mechanism to the candle body may be formed as an integral part of such body.

A fuller understanding of the present invention will be obtained from a reading of the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment thereof with reference being made to the accompanying drawings of which FIG. 1 is a side view of the candle partially broken away to show the interior structure;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the candle valve and regulating mechanism assembled to the base portion of the candle body;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the adjusting wheel of the regulating mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a crosssectional view of the candle taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1 with the valve in its closed position;

FIG. 5 is another cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the valve in its fully opened position;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the nozzle portion of the candle body showing the means for operatively connecting the regulating mechanism thereto; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of of the candle body.

Referring to FIG. 1, the candle generally designated at 1, is shown as comprising a base portion 2 defining a chamber for holding pressurized fuel such as butane and having a fuel outlet valve 3 connected thereto at one end 4 and fuel filling valve 5 means connected at its other end 6. The end 6 of the base is further provided with a plug fitting 7 for mounting the candle in a suitable candlestick or the like. The end 4 of the base is provided with a nozzle member 8 having a circumferentially extending rib 9 on its inner surface rotatably disposed within a complementary shaped groove 10 on the base, member of the candle. At the end of the nozzle member which is remote from the base of the candle there is a fuel outlet orifice 11 at which point gas flowing from the candle may be ignited to produce a flame. The orifice 11 is conthe nozzle portion nected to the interior of the nozzle at a point above the sition. A spring (not shown) is provided in the valve for normally biasing the valve stem into its closed position. The valve also has an adjusting member .13 adapted to be rotated about the axis of the valve stem for varying the size of the opening therethrough to thereby control the rate of gas flow and thus the height of the flame at the fuel outlet orifice 11.

The regulating mechanism of the present invention generally includes an adjusting wheel 14 and a cam follower 15 operatively connected to the candle body whereby rotation of the candle nozzle member 8 relative to the base portion 2 of the candle effects both an opening and closing of the fuel outlet valve, through axial movement of the valve stem 12, and adjustment of the rate of gas flow, through rotation of the adjusting member 13. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the adjusting wheel is provided with a cam portion 16 on its upper surface facing axially of the fuel outlet valve. This cam portion is comprised of a first surface 17, a second axially spaced surface defined by the upstanding diametrically dlisposed ribs 18, and the transition surfaces 19 in the form of ramps connecting the first and second surfaces. In addition, the adjusting wheel includes a centrally located splined bore 20 and an outwardly extending tang 21.

The adjusting wheel is positioned on the fuel outlet valve in the manner shown in FIG. 2 with the splined bore 20 engaged with the adjusting member 13 by way of a complementary outer splined surface 22 whereby rotation of the adjusting wheel will produce a corresponding rotation of the valve adjusting member. When the adjusting wheel is positioned on the valve as shown in FIG. 2, the cam portion thereof faces axially outwardly of the base portion of the candle.

Positioned above the adjusting wheel is the cam follower 15 having an aperture 23 through which the valve stem 12 passes. A retaining clip 24 holds the cam follower against outward axially movement off the stem. Also, the cam follower extends laterally across the cam portion of the adjusting wheel with one end 25 thereof extending beyond.

For operatively connecting the valve regulating mechanism to the candle body, the end 4 of the base portion of the candle is provided with a pair of axially extending posts 26 and 27. As shown in FIG. 4, these posts are disposed on opposite sides of the extending end 25 of the cam follower and thus prevent relative rotational movement between the base portion of the candle and the follower while nevertheless permitting axially movement of the latter. The nozzle member of the candle is in turn provided with a pair of axially extending lugs 28 and 29 on its inner surface (FIGS. 6 and 7). These lugs are spaced circumferentially of each other and are adapted to align on opposite sides of the tang 21 when the nozzle member is assembled onto the base portion of the candle. With this construction, rotational movement of the nozzle member will cause a similar movement of the adjusting wheel relative to the base portion of the candle.

Referring to FIG. 4, it is seen that the end 4 of the base portion of the candle further includes a third axially extending post 30 having an axially extending recess 31 in its outer circumferential surfaceJThis post defines part of the locking mechanism for releasably locking the outlet valve in closed position and is adapted to cooperate with an axially extending rib 32 on the inner surface of the nozzle member (FIGS. 6 and 7).

In operation, the candle, assembled as shown in FIG. 1, can be adjusted by simple rotational movement of the nozzle member 8 relative to the base portion 2 to move the valve from a closed position (FIG. 4) to a fully opened position (FIG. Assuming that the valve is in its closed position, rotation of the nozzle member in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4, will produce rotation of the adjusting wheel relative to the base portion 2 of the candle; and since the cam follower 15 is held against rotation relative to the base portion, the adjusting wheel will also rotate relative to the follower. As the transition surface 19 of the wheel comes under the follower, the latter will be caused to move axially of the valve and thus raise the valve stem 12 to its open position. Further rotational movement of the nozzle in this counterclockwise direction, will in turn cause rotation of the valve adjusting member 13 to further open the valve opening. During this latter movement, the follower 15 will be riding of the surfaces 18; and since these surfaces are flat, no further axially movement of the follower or valve stem will be produced.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention a positive stopping action is incorporated into the regulating mechanism for preventing undesired movement of the valve past the fully closed and fully opened positions. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, it will be seen that when the adjusting wheel is in the valve closing position, the rib 32 of the nozzle member is disposed in the recess 31 of the post 30. In addition, it is to be noted that the axially extending lug 28 nearest the post 30, which is disposed in the path of movement of the tang, is in engagement therewith and thus prevents further rotation of the adjusting wheel in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4 past the valve closing position. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 5, this same positive stopping action is produced when the valve is in its fully opened position by the coaction between the post 27 and the lug 29. j

The body portion of the candle described above is preferably made of a suitable plastic material. Thus the posts of the base portion as well as the lugs and rib provided on the inner wall of the nozzle member may thus be formed integrally therewith; and due to the resilient characteristics of the plastic, the nozzle may be assembled onto the base with the rib 9 of the nozzle within the groove 1! of the base by simple rectilinear movement. Also, the rib 32 of the nozzle may enter the recess 31 of the post 30 upon rotation of the nozzle to the valve closing position. Of course, these parts may be formed separately if desired or required by the particular molding techniques used in producing the candle body.

Having described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that various changes thereto may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a gas fueled candle having a base portion defining a chamber for holding fuel of the butane type under pressure; a fuel outlet valve disposed at one end of said base portion and including an axially movable valve stem normally held in a first valve closing position and movable to a second valve opening position spaced axially outwardly of said first position, and an adjusting member rotatable about the axis of said valve stem for varying the size of said opening, the improvement comprising a valve regulating mechanism including (a) an adjusting wheel connected to the adjusting member of the fuel outlet valve for rotation therewith about the axis of the valve stem, said adjusting wheel having:

(1) an axially facing cam portion having first and second surfaces spaced from each other along the axis of said valve stem, and a transition surface connecting said first and second surfaces;

(b) a cam follower connected to the valve stem of said fuel outlet valve and overlying said adjusting wheel in riding engagement with the cam portion thereof;

(c) means connecting said cam follower to the base portion of said candle against rotation relative thereto; and

(d) a hollow nozzle member rotatably connected to one end of the base portion of said candle in enclosing relationship with said regulating mechanism, said nozzle member having (1) a fuel orifice at the end thereof remote from the base portion of said candle, and

(2) means connecting said nozzle member to the adjusting wheel for rotation therewith.

2. In a gas fueled candle according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) said cam follower is an elongated member extending laterally across the adjusting wheel; and

(b) the second surface of the cam portion of said adjusting wheel is formed by two axially raised ribs on diametrically opposite sides of the adjusting wheel.

3. In a gas fueled candle according to claim 2 wherein:

(a) one end of said cam follower extends laterally beyond said adjusting wheel; and

(b) said means for connecting said cam follower to the base portion of said candle includes first and second axially extending posts fixed to the one end of said base portion on opposite sides of the extending end of said cam follower and in engagement therewith. i

4. In a gas fueled candle according to claim 3 wherein said means connecting said nozzle member to the adjusting wheel includes:

(a) a tang member connected to said adjusting Wheel and extending outwardly thereof toward the inner wall surface of said nozzle member, and

(b) radially inwardly extending means on the inner surface of said nozzle member engaging said tang.

5. In a gas fueled candle according to claim 4 wherein:

(a) said last mentioned means comprises a pair of lugs disposed on opposite sides of said tang and in engagement therewith.

6. In a gas fueled candle according to claim 5, the improvement further comprising:

(a) a third axially extending post means fixed to the one end of the base portion of the candle and having an axially extending recess on its outer circumferential surface;

(b) an axially extending rib on the inner wall surface of said nozzle member seated within said recess in releasable locking relationship therewith when said adjusting wheel is in a valve closing positioned with the cam follower overlying the first surface thereof.

7. In a gas fueled candle according to claim 6 wherein:

(a) the third axially extending post means is disposed in the path of rotative movement of said tang; and

(b) said tang is spaced circumferentially of said third post when the adjusting wheel is in said valve closing position with the lug nearest said third post engaging therewith whereby further rotation of said tang toward said third post is prevented.

8. In a gas fueled lighter according to claim 7 wherein:

(a) one of said first and second posts is disposed in the path of rotative movement of said tang as the adjusting wheel is rotated from its valve closing position to a valve open position with the cam follower overlying said second surface thereof;

(b) said tang is spaced circumferentially of said one post when the adjusting wheel is in said valve open position permitting maximum flow of gas through said valve with the lug nearest said one post engaging therewith whereby further rotation of said tang toward said one post is prevented.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,984,093 5/1961 Goddard et a1. 67-87 JAMES W. WESTHAVER, Primary Examiner. 

